Of the many countries in the world, South Korea is one that diligently sends their films to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Last year, there were Aloners, The Red Filter is Withdrawn, Hellbound, and Together which managed to amaze the TIFF audience.
This year, South Korea did not want to be left behind in sending their best works to one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Unmitigated, in TIFF which will be held on September 8-18, there are five titles that will be broadcast.
From espionage to arthouse, here are five Korean films that will be showing at TIFF 2022 and are ready to amaze international audiences. Get ready to be amazed, yes!
- Hunt (2022)
The film, which will be shown simultaneously in South Korea on August 10, is directed by Lee Jung Jae, who plays Seong Gi Hun in Squid Game (2021-present). With the theme of espionage, Hunt is his directorial debut, you know.
Not only acting as a director, Lee Jung Jae also starred in this film. In Hunt, he plays Park Pyong Ho, a secret agent assigned to catch North Korean spies who have infiltrated his agency.
Besides Lee Jung Jae, this film also features a number of famous South Korean actors. The three of them are Jung Woo Sung (Beasts Clawing at Straws), Jeon Hye Jin (Ashfall), and Go Yoon Jung (Law School).
- Brokers (2022)
Written and directed by Hirokazu Koreeda (Shoplifters), Broker successfully led one of its players, Song Kang Ho (Parasite), to win Best Actor at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. How not? Song Kang Ho’s acting as a warm-hearted baby seller has indeed succeeded in stealing attention.
The film focuses on the journey of Sang Hyeon (Song Kang Ho) and Dong Soo (Gang Dong Won) to find a suitable buyer for the baby So Young (Lee Ji Eun) dumped. Unexpectedly, the trip became an unforgettable emotional roller coaster for them.
- Decision to Leave (2022)
Not only Brokers, Decision to Leave also won the Cannes Film Festival 2022 by winning Best Director for Park Chan Wook. Therefore, it is not surprising that many say that this film will be the Broker’s toughest rival in TIFF 2022.
Featuring Tang Wei (Lust, Caution) and Park Hae Il (War of the Arrows) as the main characters, Decision to Leave is able to explore a variety of diverse themes. Not only is the murder mystery so interesting, through this film, Park Chan Wook also anesthetizes the audience with his psycho love story.
Until now, Decision to Leave is still playing in a number of cinemas in the country, you know. How about you, have you watched it yet?
- A Man of Reason (2022)
If Hunt is Lee Jung Jae’s directorial debut, then A Man of Reason is his film co-star Jung Woo Sung. Just like Lee Jung Jae, Jung Woo Sung also starred in the first film he directed.
A number of top Korean drama stars, such as Kim Nam Gil (Through the Darkness), Park Sung Woong (Snowdrop), to Kim Jun Han (Anna), he took to enliven A Man of Reason. Unlike the three titles above, this film will premiere at TIFF 2022. Wow, it’s worth the wait!
- Walk Up (2022)
Missing Hong Sang Soo’s arthouse cinema (Hahaha, The Woman Who Ran)? Get ready, one of the directors who brings the name of South Korea to the international scene will broadcast his latest work, Walk Up, at TIFF 2022.
Although there is no official synopsis yet, TIFF wrote on its official website that Walk Up will present a soft and fun new perspective from the filmmaker. In addition, the appearance of two senior South Korean actors, Lee Hye Young (Kill Heel) and Kwon Hae Hyo (Forecasting Love and Weather), in the trailer further made fans look forward to its release.
Not only screened in the Gala and Special Presentations TIFF 2022, the five Korean films above also have the potential to win the highest trophy at the film festival, namely the People’s Choice Award. Very cool, yes!
